Cancer Charity: CEO of Blessing Refuses to Say Sorry, Reveals N13m Donations

Blessing Okoro, also known as Blessing CEO, has stated that she sees no reason to apologize for the backlash surrounding her claim of having breast cancer, despite facing accusations of falsely stating she had stage four cancer.

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During an interview with Egungun of Lagos, which was shared on Instagram on Saturday, Okoro dismissed the accusations and clarified that she received N13m in donations, contrary to reports that suggested she received N100m.

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When asked to apologize to those who felt misled by her stage four claim, Okoro responded by saying "For what? Who did I hurt?" and suggested that the controversy may have stemmed from a misunderstanding.

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She explained that the stage four label might have been incorrectly communicated to her, stating "I think I’m not a doctor and maybe I just passed the message that a doctor gave to me" and "Maybe it’s miscommunication because that was what I was told, but I’m also trying to, when you do your biopsy, I want to have different options and be sure of what I’m doing".

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According to Okoro, doctors have yet to determine the exact stage of her illness, with further consultations ongoing, and she noted "I don’t know the stage I am right now because I’ve run all the tests. In a few days’ time I’ll go back to my oncologist and they will be able to tell me the exact stage".

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Okoro also stated that chemotherapy has not commenced, with her most recent medical procedure being a biopsy, and recounted how the issue began with a lump that was initially believed to be harmless but was later confirmed as cancerous.

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She declined calls to release her medical records publicly, insisting that they remain private, and stated "I can’t post my results online. It’s personal stuff".

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Addressing the donation claims, Okoro refuted the viral figures suggesting she received N100m, and instead stated "I never reached N100 million", with the actual total being N13m.

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Regarding potential treatment options, including surgery, Okoro expressed hope that it would not be necessary but prioritized her survival, saying "We are hoping it doesn’t get to that point, but if it gets to that point, the most important thing is let me be alive".

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Okoro used the opportunity to promote awareness about breast cancer, encouraging women to routinely examine themselves for early signs, and stated "As a lady, the most common kind of cancer we have is breast cancer. So please every morning when you wake up always try to check your breast and check if there is a lump".

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Her remarks come as scrutiny over her diagnosis continues to intensify, with her initial announcement attracting sympathy but later being met with doubts due to the absence of verifiable medical proof.

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A woman identified as Deborah Mbara has accused Okoro of manipulating medical documents to mislead the public, adding to the controversy surrounding her diagnosis.

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In a separate development, businessman Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo, also known as Oil Money, claimed he donated N20m and has since issued a legal demand seeking a refund within seven days, threatening further action if the money is not returned.

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This is not the first time Okoro has faced public controversy, having been involved in a high-profile incident in 2019 where she falsely claimed ownership of a luxury property, an episode that led to her arrest and eventual public apology.